Where Everyone Has Gone Before #11: 'Silent Running'

(I consider myself a pretty serious movie fan. But the simple fact of the matter is that I miss stuff. Famous and interesting stuff. But not for long! Welcome to the column where I continue my film education before your very eyes. I will seek out and watch all of the movies I know I should have seen by now. I will first "review" the movie before I've watched it, based entirely on its reputation. Then I will give the movie a fair chance and actually watch it. You will laugh at me, you may condemn me, but you will never say I didn't try!)

The Film:

Silent Running (1971), Dir. Douglas Trumbull

Starring:

Bruce Dern, a bunch of annoying robots and some trees.

Why I Haven't Seen It Until Now:

To be completely honest, I had never even heard of it until the Filmspotting podcast did a series on science fiction films from the 1970s. Considering that this is directed by the great visual effects guy Douglas Trumbull, I'm pretty appalled at myself for that.